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FUPA. Muffin top. Belly pooch. Call it whatever you want, but even those of us who have finally learned to love our bodies have trouble feeling confident when our FUPA is making an appearance.
I can tell you again and again that your tummy isn’t ruining your outfit. But, that doesn’t mean that you’re going to believe that.
Fortunately, what I can tell you, is how to hide a FUPA in your clothes. Because every woman deserves to look (and feel) like the most confident version of herself.
There are several ways to hide a FUPA, by wearing the right underwear or shapewear which can help smooth the area. Opting for high-waisted or mid-rise leggings or jeans can also help. Finally, wearing dresses or shirts that flow over the tummy can also help hide your FUPA.
Before we jump into how to hide your FUPA in specific clothing items, I’ll give you some general info on how to hide your belly using shapewear or regular underwear when you want to look your best.
Shapewear vs. Shaping Undergarments
Looking your best doesn’t always have to do with the clothing that people can see. Sometimes, choosing the right shapewear or undergarments are really going to help smooth problem areas. Let’s take a closer look at each of these things and situations where they work best.
Wearing Shapewear to Hide a FUPA
Shapewear helps smooth problem areas like a belly pooch or love handles and helps accent your natural silhouette. It comes in all shapes and sizes and can be worn under almost anything if you have the right style. Additionally, shapewear comes in different levels of compression that can smooth, sculpt, or even make your problem areas disappear.
That being said, shapewear isn’t something that you want to wear all the time. Wearing shapewear too often comes with risks like abdominal discomfort, digestive issues, and skin irritation.
These risks increase if you’re wearing shapewear with a high level of compression or shapewear that is too tight.
So, if you are going to wear shapewear, it’s really important that you choose the right size. If it comes down to it, and it’s a choice of sizing up or sizing down in shapewear, you should always size up to avoid these issues.
Wearing Underwear to Help Hide a FUPA
Choosing the right undergarments is really going to help in those times when shapewear isn’t really appropriate, as well as those occasions where you aren’t trying to go all out by wearing shapewear. Plus, it’s a lot easier to use the bathroom in panties than it is in shapewear.
For example, high-waisted or mid-rise underwear made of certain fabrics really help to hold everything in place. Some even have a smoothing effect that help compress your FUPA and bring you closer toward that hourglass shape that many women are after.
Like with shapewear, having the right size is pretty important. Underwear that are too big are going to slide down your body and won’t really compress anything, while panties that are too small tend to roll down and won’t stay in place.
The good news is that if you aren’t sure what to look for when it comes to the best underwear and panties that will help hide your FUPA, I’ve compiled a list of some great options here. Plus, the options I’ve found will make you feel sexy underneath your clothes, too- they aren’t just some high-waisted granny panties.
How to Hide a FUPA in Jeans
Finding that perfect pair of jeans can sometimes be a nightmare for anyone, but especially when you’re plus sized. That being said, once you do finally track down that perfect pair of jeans, it becomes a lot easier to make your tummy less apparent.
Choosing the Right Jeans
For starters, you’ll want to pick jeans that have a little bit of stretch in the waist. It is pretty normal for a person’s weight to fluctuate and we all wake up some days feeling fatter than others. If your jeans don’t have any stretch, and you wear them too tight, a muffin top or FUPA is going to be a lot more noticeable because you are squeezing the fat.
In addition to having the right size jeans, you’ll also want to choose those that offer at least a mid-rise (high-waisted are another great choice!) The material of most jeans are fairly solid, so you’ll be able to tuck your tummy away and make it less apparent.
Picking a Shirt That Helps Hide Your Tummy
Once you have the right jeans, you can either hide your FUPA by pairing it with shapewear or underwear, or you can pair it with a top that helps accentuate your best features while drawing attention away from your tummy.
When it comes to tops, I really favor those that have a slimmer waistline and that are more relaxed around the tummy area for hiding a FUPA. This accentuates your natural waist and draws attention to the narrowest part of your body. Here’s an example of a shirt that does just what I’m talking about.
Plus, even if you have a top that doesn’t accentuate your waistline, you can achieve that using a waist belt. A thin waist belt will get the job done, but a thicker waist belt will help accentuate your waist even more.
These style tops aside, when shopping for shirts for plus size women, you’ll want to go with those that aren’t too tight or form fitting around the belly. But, you also don’t want something that’s too baggy.
When you’re plus-size, the baggy look tends to look sloppy instead of relaxed. This doesn’t mean you have to dress up, though. Even a T-shirt is going to look great with jeans as long as you’re wearing it in the size that fits you!
How to Hide a FUPA in Leggings
Like with jeans, hiding a tummy in leggings has a lot to do with the type of leggings you are wearing. Some leggings are soft and super stretchy. While these are comfortable, especially for lounging around the house, they aren’t always the best choice if you’re looking for something that is going to help hide your tummy. The fabric just doesn’t offer enough support.
That being said, you also want to be wary of choosing thicker leggings that aren’t breathable. Sometimes, even leggings that are designed for working out have no breathability, which is a huge problem for us ladies that might sweat a little more.
The good news is that you don’t have to worry much about how to hide your tummy in athletic-style leggings because they are made of thicker, elastic fabric that has just enough stretch to hold everything in. However, you’ll also want to be sure you go with mid-rise or high-waisted, just like with jeans.
If you are still worried about your tummy, pairing it with the right top can help. Of course, the right top can help just about any pair of bottoms.
How to Hide a Tummy in Thinner Leggings
Thinner leggings don’t really offer as much compression, if any. That being said, I do love thinner or capri leggings for summer outings. You know, those times when you want to look good and stay cool, without making the commitment to wearing shorts.
Plus, you can easily cover the problem areas by pairing them with a tunic or an elbow-sleeve top that comes down past your butt. It’s all about the length and shape of the shirt, so it’s not always the leggings that make you appear thin, but the top that you pair with them. All the tips that I mentioned for pairing shirts with jeans also apply here!
How to Hide a FUPA in a Skirt or Shorts
Like with jeans and leggings (well, any bottoms really), you’ll want to opt for either mid-rise or high-waisted. Choosing thicker material will offer better compression, so you have somewhere to tuck your FUPA away if you don’t want it showing.
Sizing is really important when it comes to your shorts. You do want there to be enough stretch that they aren’t digging into your legs every time you sit down, but you also don’t want them so loose that they move around too much.
Plus, there’s always the dreaded risk of them riding up while you’re wearing them. You can avoid this by buying the right length shorts. Shorts that are at least mid-length that reach the widest part of your thigh can really help them stay in place.
When choosing a skirt, try something with a thicker waistline that will smooth over your hips or waist and then flow over your tummy. Opting for something with a pleat can also be an option.
You may have heard that plus size women shouldn’t wear pleats, but I debunked that myth here. Pleated skirts look great on bigger bodies when you know how to style them!
How to Hide a FUPA in a Dress
The best way to hide a FUPA in a dress, with or without shapewear, is to choose a style that flatters your body shape. Since people’s bodies are shaped differently, this is going to change based on your individual body type and style.
Dresses for an Hourglass Body Shape
For people with an hourglass shape, which is curvy with proportionate busts and hips, dresses that have cinched waistlines help accent the waist, the narrowest part on their body. It also flows over the tummy and highlights the curves. Dresses with a tighter bodice also flatter this body type. By contrast, shapeless dresses would make people with an hourglass figure look frumpy.
Dresses for Pear-Shaped Bodies
Women who are pear-shaped have a thinner bust and wider hips. Dresses that look good on this body type include those with a fitted or strapless top and wider, flowing bottom. A-line dresses (like the one pictured below) also look good on this body type, while. skirts that are too full can end up making their bottom half look even larger.
Dresses for an Apple Body Shape
For apple-shaped women, who are full-figured ladies with a rounder body shape and thinner hips and legs, wearing dresses that show off the legs can draw attention to what’s likely one of their favorite features.
Anything that draws attention to the top half of your body is a great choice, including A-line dresses, wrap dresses, full skirt dresses, and anything that creates a waist without drawing attention to the tummy.
How to Hide a FUPA in a Tight Dress
While you might think that your tummy isn’t going anywhere when you put on a tight dress, I still have a few tips that can help you feel confident in one. After all, a tight dress is a great way to show off your curves, especially when you’re learning to love them!
Consider Shapewear
For ladies who want to really accentuate their curves by wearing a tight dress, one of the best options might be opting for shapewear or undergarments that offer a little compression to help shape your body.
Even if you don’t opt for shapewear, though, you will want to be sure that your undergarments fit properly. If your underwear or bra is too tight, it’s going to create extra lumps and bulges with the way it indents your skin.
Get Comfortable With Your Tummy
Something to keep in mind, though, is that when you choose something form-fitting, your tummy is probably going to show at least some. Especially if you are a thick or full-figured woman.
I want to take this moment to remind you that your tummy isn’t ruining your outfit. After all, there are tons of ladies out there that look sexy with tummies. Even Beyonce talked about her postpartum FUPA (and how she thought they were “meant to be” after welcoming her little one into the world.
She kept it tucked away in these high-waisted jean shorts in this photo (and she slayed those shorts, btw).
Bottom line? Yes, you can put on shapewear or something under a tight dress to help smooth problem areas. But, don’t be afraid of a little tummy pooch. If it’s good enough for Beyonce, it’s good enough for me!
Pair Your Dress With the Right Accessories
Aside from shapewear and letting it be, another alternative is highlighting other areas to draw attention away from your tummy. For example, a wide sash or waist belt draws attention away from your FUPA when you wrap it around the narrowest part of your waist. You could also try a bright scarf, sweater or coverup, or other accessories.
How to Hide a FUPA in a Swimsuit
Like when wearing a tight dress, swimsuits give you little to hide when it comes to how you look at the beach. That being said, the cut of the swimsuit can go a long way in smoothing problem areas like your tummy. Plus, if there are any other areas you don’t feel confident with, like your thighs, arms, or hips, you can find a swimsuit or coverup that goes over these areas, too.
Plus, while you should never wear shapewear under a swimsuit, there are plenty of sculpting swimsuits out there. Trust me when I say you aren’t alone in wanting to feel confident, or even sexy, when you’re at the beach.
With these tips in mind, I’m going to keep this section brief. I’ve already covered how to hide a FUPA in a swimsuit in its own article. After all, even as bigger women, we all deserve to feel confident at the beach!
Final Word
Even though we spend a lot of time talking about self-love, that doesn’t mean that you have to be thrilled about every part of your body to find yourself beautiful. And sometimes, feeling beautiful means highlighting those areas you do love while hiding problem areas like your FUPA.
Hopefully, this guide on how to hide your FUPA will keep you feeling confident and sexy in any situation, whether you’re getting ready for a cocktail party, going to a wedding, running errands, or heading to the beach.